Human powered vehicle with two reciprocal pedals

ABSTRACT

A reciprocal pedal drive mechanism for human powered vehicles. The drive motion on each of the two pedals is efficiently converted to two motions, one for pedal recovery and the other for driving the vehicle forward.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional No. 60/993,184, entitled “Scooters with Simultaneously Pedal Recovery System,” filed on Sep. 10, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to reciprocal pedal drive mechanisms generally to the field of sports, recreation, toys, and particularly relates to user-propelled vehicles, such as two-wheel or three-wheel scooter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bicycles and kick scooters are popular human powered vehicles and have been used by most people.

Some pedal actuate scooters have been developed as an attempt to provide substitute for regular scooters, but almost all of them are either hard to operate or clumsy, and are not acceptable to most users.

The basic arrangement of a forward sprocket wheel driven by rotating pedal cranks and coupled by an endless roller chain to a rear sprocket wheel mounted concentrically with the hub of the rear wheel of the bicycle or tricycle combines the advantages of simplicity and low friction to provide an inexpensive and efficient drive mechanism. But this conventional design has an inherent drawback, however. Rotary pedal cranks do not provide a uniformly effective conversion of the substantially linear driving force exerted by the rider into drive torque. At the top and bottom of pedal travel, drive torque is minimal. This makes the regular bicycle difficult to ride while the bicycle is slowly on uphill or muddy road even with the speed change systems. Also it is difficulty to ride bicycle with the user standing on the pedals.

Other drive mechanisms for pedaled scooters or bicycles have been used. One of the pedaled scooter in U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,141 B2 has a pair of pedals recovered by springs. U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,355 B2 is about a step driven bicycle. U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,353 B1 issued to P. Cabal describes an upright step-cycle with elliptical motion pedaling. Other pedaled drive mechanisms include U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,173 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,282, U.S. Pat. No. 3,877,724, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,375,023.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a scooter includes a frame, pedals adapted to support a user, wheels, steering hand bar, and a geartrain mounted to the wheels. The geartrain is adapted to receive a downward force from the pedals, translate a portion of the downward force into a rotational force acting to rotate the wheels in one direction only, and provide an upward return force for the pedals.

Objects, features, and advantages of various embodiments of the invention include:

(1) Improved apparatuses and methods for propelling a human powered vehicle, such as a scooter; and

(2) Push down one pedal will simultaneous raise the other pedal and drive the wheel(s), and

(3) Each crank arm rotates less than 180° angle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a three-wheel scooter.

FIG. 2 is an overhead sectional view of the gear based pedal return system transmission assembly for the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bike scooter.

FIG. 4 is an overhead sectional view of the gear based pedal return system transmission assembly for the apparatus shown in FIG. 3

FIG. 5 is a simple illustration side view of a chain, belt, cable, or other flexible tension member based pedal return system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The present invention related to user-propelled vehicle such as a scooter, skateboard, or boat, which utilizes power generated by movement of a user supported by a platform while keeping both feet on the platform without touching the ground. While the embodiments shown here relate to scooters, one skilled in the art will recognize the applicability of the invention to other toys, vehicles, and/or platforms that can support a user.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of transmission system of the FIG. 1. The apparatus includes handle bar 172, upright handle 175, front wheel fork 177, connector 170, front wheel 180, upward walls 168, deck 162, pedal rest platforms 165 and 166, rear wheels 155 and 157, and driving system (FIG. 2).

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is a pedaled scooter propelled by driving two pedals 101 and 102 upward and downward. Each of pedals 101 and 102 is adapted to receive a portion of a user's body weight when a user's foot is placed on each of pedals 101 and 102. Each of pedals 101 and 102 is also adapted to move between an initial position and a depressed position. The lowest position pedal 101 or 102 can reach is limited by pedal recess platforms 165 and 166. The pedaled scooter also includes a geartrain or transmission assembly oriented towards the rear portion of the pedaled scooter that translates downward force on the pedals 101 and 102 to a rotational force on the rear wheel. A geartrain can include, but is not limited to, gear-type drives, chain-type drives, belt-type drives, hydraulic-type drives, or other combined drives that translate a downward force into a rotational force. When pedal 101 is pressed down, crank 103 will turn chain wheel 107 and gear 109 via the crank shaft 105. Gear 109 will engage with gear 110 and turn the shaft 106 in the opposite direction, therefore raise pedal 102 via crank 104. Chain wheel 107 will also rotate and pull chain 113 to rotate the fly wheel 115. The fly wheel 115 further rotates shaft 125 via one way clutch 121 inside the fly wheel 115. Shaft 125 will further turn chain wheel 130, pull chain 132, and rotate chain wheel 135 and axle 140. The rotation of axle 140 will turn the wheels 155 and 157 via the one way clutches 151 and 152 respectively. Meanwhile, pushing down pedal 101 will make chain wheel 107 and chain wheel 108 to rotate in different direction. But one way clutch 122 in the fly wheel 116 will prevent shaft 125 to engage with the rotation of the fly wheel 116. In general, push down pedal 101 will rotate both wheels 155 and 157, and also raise pedal 102 simultaneously.

When pedal 102 is pressed down, both wheels 155 and 157 will be rotated, also pedal 101 will be raised. Each of crank shafts 103 and 104 will be rotated within 180° angle. And each of crank shafts 103 and 104 will be rotated by same angle at opposite direction. There is also a one-way clutch or overrun clutch in each of the rear wheels to allow the scooter to coast freely and to turn smoothly.

Press each of pedals 101 and 102 will rotate the second shaft 125 in the same direction. Here we call the first shaft converting both pedals' motions to one direction rotation the first unidirectional shaft. Therefore the second shaft 125 is the first unidirectional shaft in this embodiment. The first unidirectional shaft can be used directly as driven wheel shaft or there can be one or multiple shafts for changing speed ration or rotation direction purpose.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are a perspective view of a second embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the invention. The apparatus shown is a pedaled bike scooter that is propelled by driving two pedals 201 and 202 upward and downward. Each pedals 201 and 202 is adapted to receive a portion of a user's body weight or the push force when a user's foot is placed on each pedals 201 and 202. Each pedals 201 and 202 is also adapted to move between an initial position and a depressed position. The pedaled bike scooter also includes a geartrain or transmission assembly oriented towards the rear portion of the pedaled bike scooter that translates downward force on the pedals 201 and 202 to a rotational force on the rear wheel. A geartrain can include, but is not limited to, gear-type drives, chain-type drives, cable-type drives, band-type drives, hydraulic-type drives, or other combined drives that translate a downward force into a rotational force and at the same time recovery the other pedal. When pedal 201 is pressed down, crank 203 will rotate chain wheel 207 and gear 209 via the crank shaft 205. Gear 209 will engage with gear 210 and turn the shaft 206 in the opposite direction, therefore raise pedal 202 via crank 204. Chain wheel 207 will also rotate and pull chain 211 to rotate the fly wheel 235. The fly wheel 235 further rotates rear wheel 252. Meanwhile, pushing down pedal 201 will make chain wheel 207 to rotate in the same direction and chain wheel 208 to rotate in different direction. But one way, clutch in the fly wheel 236 will prevent the rear wheel to engage with the rotation of the chain wheel 208. In general, pushing down pedal 201 will rotate rear wheels 252, and also raise pedal 202 simultaneously.

When pedal 202 is pressed down, crank 204 will rotate chain wheel 208 and gear 210 via the crank shaft 206. Gear 210 will engage with gear 209 and turn the shaft 205 in the opposite direction, therefore raise pedal 201 via crank 203. Chain wheel 208 will also rotate and pull chain 212 to rotate the fly wheel 236. The fly wheel 236 further rotates rear wheel 252. Meanwhile, pushing down pedal 202 will make chain wheel 208 to rotate in the same direction and chain wheel 207 to rotate in different direction. But one way clutch in the fly wheel 235 will prevent the rear wheel to engage with the rotation of the fly wheel 235 or chain wheel 207. In general, push down pedal 202 will rotate rear wheels 252, and also raise pedal 201 simultaneously.

Press each pedals 201 and 202 will rotate the rear wheel shaft 234 in the same direction. Here we call the first shaft converting both pedals' motions to one direction rotation the first unidirectional shaft. Therefore the rear wheel shaft 234 is the first unidirectional shaft in this embodiment.

Each crank shaft 203 and 204 will be rotated within 180° angle.

FIG. 5 shows the gear based pedal recovery system in FIG. 1-4 can also be replaced by chain, cable, band, or other flexible tension members based type recovery system. The gears then will be replaced by the wheels with the flexible tension member reversely mounted between two wheels to make the two wheels rotate in opposite direction. Flexible tension member 311 is partly circled on wheel 309 and wheel 310. Flexible tension member 311 can be chain, belt, cable, or other flexible tension materials. Both ends of the flexible tension member 311 are fixed on the two wheels 309 and 310 by bolts 317 and 317. Wheel 309 is fixed on crank shaft 305, and wheel 310 is fixed on crank shaft 306. When pedal on the crank shaft 305 is pushed down, the rotation of crank shaft 305 will move wheel 309 at the same rotation speed and pull the flexible tension member 311, and further rotate wheel 310 to make the crank shaft 306 to rotate in opposite direction of the crank shaft 305. Therefore, press down the pedal on crank shaft 305 will lift the pedal on crank shaft 306. Similarly, when pedal on crank shaft 306 is pushed down, the crank shaft 305 will be rotated in opposite direction and return the pedal on the crank shaft 305 upward. The arrows in FIG. 5 show the related rotations of the wheels when each pedal is pushed down. 

1. A motion transfer mechanism for transferring reciprocal motions of two pedals to rotary motion for human powered vehicles, the motion transfer mechanism comprising: pedal recovery/return means including a bi-directional mechanical linkage between said first pedal and said second pedal whereby motion of either of said first pedal and said second pedal in either of said first and said second directions causes opposing motion of the other of said first pedal and said second pedal, wherein said bi-directional mechanical linkage including at least a pair of engaged rotary members; driving means including at least one rotary member on each craft shaft of said pedal, each of said rotary member engaging with at least one fly wheel to transfer reciprocal motion of said pedal to unidirectional rotation of a first unidirectional shaft; wherein said rotary members of said pedal recovery means and said rotary members of said driving means are evenly mounted on each craft shafts of said pedals.
 2. A motion transfer mechanism of claim 1, wherein said engaged rotary members of said bi-directional mechanical linkage including two directly engaged gears, or two chain wheels or two belt wheels engaged with chain or belt or other flexible tension member reversely mounted, said gears, or chain wheels or belt wheels are mounted on each of the two crank shafts of said pedals.
 3. A motion transfer mechanism of claim 1, wherein said rotary member in said driving means including at least one chain wheel or belt wheel or gear on each said crank shafts, the motion of a first one of the pedals in a first direction causes rotation of the said second crank shaft and further causes the rotation of at lease one driven wheel to propel the vehicle forward.
 4. A motion transfer mechanism of claim 1, wherein said fly wheel comprises at least one overrunning or one-way clutch to allow said first pedal or said second pedal to move in the second opposite direction without causing opposite rotation of the at least one driven wheel.
 5. A motion transfer mechanism for transferring reciprocal motions of two pedals to rotary motion for human powered vehicles, the motion transfer mechanism comprising: a frame; at least one wheel; a first pedal on a first crank; a second pedal on a second crank; a drive system for converting motion in a first direction of one of said first pedal and said second pedal to rotation of at least one driven wheel; a pedal recovery system for converting motion in said first direction of one of said first pedal and said second pedal to motion of the other of said first pedal and said second pedal in an opposing second direction;
 6. The scooter of claim 5, wherein said first pedal and said second pedal are each connected to one of two cranks respectively, each said crank connected to a crank shaft.
 7. The scooter of claim 5, wherein each of said first pedal and said second pedal has a limited range of motion, said range is less than 180° angle measured on the said crank rotation.
 8. The scooter of claim 5, wherein said pedal recovery system comprises a bidirectional mechanical linkage between said first pedal and said second pedal whereby motion of either of said first pedal and said second pedal in either of said first and said second directions causes opposing motion of the other of said first pedal and said second pedal, said bi-directional mechanical linkage including two directly engaged gears, each of said gears is mounted on each of the two crank shafts.
 9. The scooter of claim 5, wherein said first pedal is operable with respect to said drive system via a first one-way clutch, and wherein said second pedal is operable with respect to said drive system via a second one-way clutch to generate unidirection rotation output energy.
 10. The scooter of claim 5, wherein said drive system including at least one rotary drive wheel or drive gear directly mounted on each of said two crank shafts, said drive wheel including chain wheel or belt wheel.
 11. The scooter of claim 5, wherein said each crank shaft has at least one gear and one chain/belt wheel on it to convert the motion on pedal to both pedal recovery motion and drive motion.
 12. A scooter comprising: a frame; at least one wheel; a first pedal on a first crank; a second pedal on a second crank; each said crank connected to a crank shaft; a chain wheel connected to each of said crank shafts, and said chain wheel connected to one of two fly wheels on a first unidirectional shaft via a chain for providing a driving mechanism; each of said crank shafts has a gear on it, said two gears are engaged for providing a pedal recovery mechanism wherein said first unidirectional shaft can directly drive at least one driven wheel to propel the scooter, or there can be other transmission members between said first unidirectional shaft and said driven wheel. 